MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS ENGINE ??

I just acquired an MGA 1500 parts car and with it came an extra engine. The engine has a prefix of
15NH XXXXX. I can find no reference to this # in the Moss catalogue Production Data section for MGA. Can anyone tell me what it is ?? Thanks !!

Mike
Michael Hosier

Sounds like a column change, high compression motor from an A55 Austin Cambridge.
Dave Barron

There seems to be a letter missing. The N would be for column gearchange and the H for high compression.
A common engine in North America would be the Nash Metropolitan, but I would expect the engine number to be 15FNH......



Mick
M F Anderson

I felt that there must be a letter missing too but a second check of the engine plate confirms the full number is: 15NH 98894 and silly me ..... the valve cover has an Austin plate on it. It of course was covered by a tarp that I raised it only high enough to see the engine plate originaly. So I think Austin Cambridge is the best guess ??
Michael Hosier

Mike

Are you sure its not 15MH? i.e. M, not N. If so Morris Oxford Series 3 or 4.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve

I triple checked and no mistaking it .... it is defintiely an "N" ..... and again it has an Austin plate on the valve cover.

Mike
Michael Hosier

The BMC engine chart suggests that this motor is from a 1957/8 A55 Austin Cambridge.
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/news/news498.html
See chart BMC 'B' SERIES ENGINES USE.( 1953 to 1981.)
Dave Barron

Thanks Dave, I can see from the chart the reference to #15 by itself for the A55 Austin Cambridge and assume that my "N" would refer to column shift and my "H" would refer to high compression. How did you determine the specific year range as 1957/58 ?? I don't see any model year reference other than the section category 1953 to 1981. Is the answer as obvious as those are the only two years of production for the A55 or am I missing something ?? Please excuse my ignorance if the answer is that simple. My experience/knowledge is primarily with MGA's and even that is often limited. Thanks !!

Mike
Michael Hosier

Mike, you are unable to tell the year from the chart but the MK1 Cambridge was only produced from 1957/58. The MK2 Cambridge produced from 1959/61 had an engine prefix 15AMW, and yes you're correct the N is column change and the H is high compression.
Dave Barron

Dave, Steve and Mick ..... many thanks for all your input. Once again the BBS proves to be a valuable resource !!

Mike
Michael Hosier

I fired off a question about this to Neil Cairns, an authority on MG and B-Series engines. He responded to me that the NH suffix was a new one for him.

Michael, perhaps you could respond to Neil with the details and perhaps a photo so that he can add it to his research.

neil dot cairns at virgin dot net

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/engine/mgenginehistory.rtf

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 16/09/2008 and 19/09/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.